Adolescent alcohol use disorder and comorbid stressors: examining the effectiveness of safer drinking messages

Reports on safer drinking messages (SDMs) advocacy for alcohol use disorder (AUD) prevention have shown that SDMs present a plausible public health approach to AUD and its associated comorbid stressors (Anxiety and Depression) prevention and treatment. However, the SDMs approach are yet to be tested among Nigerian adolescents whose rate of alcohol use has been shown to be high and continues to be on the increase. The present study aimed to examine the role of SDMs in the association between AUD comorbid stressors among adolescents (N = 872; Mage= 17.13, SD = 3.02; male = 715(82%); female = 157(18%)). They responded to alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT), SDMs measures, and the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21). PROCESS macro analysis results showed that AUD was positively associated with comorbid stressors, but negatively associated with SDMs. However, SDMs were negatively associated with AUD and its associated comorbid stressors, and further dissipated the AUD-comorbid stressors links. The findings emphasized the inclusion of SDM advocacy in AUD and comorbid stressors prevention, policy and treatment in Nigeria.